In southern Vermont, the Mount Snow area offers year-round recreation and scenic beauty. Sugar maples blaze like fire in autumn and then give up their sap in late winter, from which Vermont produces its legendary maple syrup. Enjoy winter or summer sports in the refreshing air. Beautiful historic inns, many of which offer fine dining, are scattered throughout this idyllic setting. You might not even want to rent a car, since there is a free shuttle service, the MOOver, or “cow bus” as the locals call it (it’s painted like a cow). Some of the lodgings will pick you up from the airport if you ask. Both West Dover, adjacent to the airport, and Wilmington, six miles south, are charming villages with historic buildings and shops.
Deerfield Valley Regional Airport lies in a shallow canyon in Vermont’s Green Mountains. Winds can be squirrely here, so check both windsocks and be prepared for crosswinds that tend to dissipate as you descend below the surrounding trees. The 2,650-foot runway is plowed, although it’s best to check if there’s been a recent snowstorm and watch your wingtips for snowbanks beside the runway. Since the taxiway doesn’t parallel the entire runway length, you might need to back-taxi part way. There’s a landing fee and no fuel or tiedowns (bring your own). Enterprise can provide a rental car if you want one.
One of the largest ski areas in the East, Mount Snow Resort boasts 20 lifts, a vertical drop of 1,700 feet, 600 skiable acres, state-of-the-art grooming, and eight terrain parks for snowboarders plus a superpipe with 18-foot walls. March brings fun freestyle ski and snowboard events. In summer, the resort becomes a mountain biking paradise. Just across the street from Mount Snow’s second entrance, the Timber Creek Cross Country Ski Area offers fine Nordic and snowshoeing trails for all abilities. Want to try snowmobiling? You can access Vermont’s statewide trail system from the Snowmobile Tour area at the Mount Snow resort. Numerous lodging choices can be found around Mount Snow, but the Grand Summit Resort Hotel is the valley’s only ski-in, ski-out lodging. Amenities include Harriman’s Farm to Table restaurant with live music on weekends, an outdoor heated pool, hot tubs, sports shop, and full-service spa.
In Wilmington, the Adams Farm is open year-round with seasonal activities that include paintball and a kid’s farm camp. This seven-generation family farm has operated here since 1865. In winter, Belgian draft horses will pull you through maple groves on an evening sleigh ride. Visitors can feed the animals, go fishing, learn how maple syrup is made, take a guided horseback ride, or shop at their farm store for meats, maple syrup, sauces, and Vermont gifts.
Kids love the pizza and arcade games at the Last Chair Bar and Grill, two miles south of Mount Snow, while the grown-ups go for the raw bar, craft brews, and ribs.
Love to stay at a B&B? Just a mile from the airport, the newly renovated Inn at Sawmill Farm offers cozy rooms, many with wood-burning fireplaces. The Snow Goose Inn is tucked back into three acres of woods, with its own bubbling brook. The Deerhill Inn offers magnificent views of the valley, Mount Snow, and Haystack Mountain, plus afternoon tea or wine, as well as the sumptuous breakfast. The romantic dining room’s seasonal menu features local produce and carefully sourced, hormone-free meat and fish. Its wine cellar has earned the coveted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 12 years running. With your airplane, it’s easy to visit Mount Snow; make this the year you discover the true Vermont.
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